Chapter XXII (2)

[11] This was written in the spring of 1919, when the bones of horses and a great accumulation of rotting cavalry equipment still lay thick in front of Monchy.

[12] Orange Hill, strictly speaking, is only a spur of the height on which Monchy stands, and is separated from the latter by a slight depression.

[13] The cavalry also ran into the hostile barrage which fell on our front line as soon as the tanks advanced.

[14] The idea of employing tanks in Egypt and Syria originated with Colonel Swinton, who proposed that they should be used in the advance on El Arish, early in the campaign. The authorities laughed at the idea of tanks operating over sand; and it was only after the fall of El Arish that the suggestion was grudgingly adopted. In this connection I would like to point out that in the “Report on the Advance of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force,” an official publication edited by Lieut.-Colonel Pirie Gordon, which professes to give the name and details of every unit connected, however remotely, with the Third Battle of Gaza, and which actually includes in the list A.S.C. depots at Alexandria, the Tank Department is not so much as mentioned!

[15] Report on Tank Operations in Egypt and Palestine, &c.

[16] Apologies perhaps are due for the continual use of this book (‘Nelson’s History of the War’) as a stalking-horse; but in spite of the difficulties attending its production, and its claim to be no more than a popular history, Colonel Buchan had exceptional opportunities of gaining information, and the work is in fact the only full and reliable account of the war as yet in print.

[17] ‘The Tank Corps.’ C. A. Williams-Ellis.

[18] See William III. and Bishop Walker at the Boyne.

[19] ‘The Tank Corps’ (Williams-Ellis), from which the whole incident is paraphrased.

[20] M’Elroy, of 19 Company, won the D.S.O. at Havrincourt in remarkable circumstances. The leading tanks and infantry had passed through the village, which was believed to be cleared of the enemy. M’Elroy’s machine, following behind, caught fire just as about 100 Germans appeared round it from various hiding-places. Two of the crew, jumping out of one door to escape the flames, were killed instantly. The remainder, except the tank commander, scrambled out of the other door into a shell-hole. The Germans bombed them and killed one man, and then came and looked down into the shell-hole, where the survivors pretended also to be dead. M’Elroy, in the meantime, had remained in the tank and extinguished the fire. He then drove off the Germans with machine-gun fire and kept them at bay for nearly an hour until some infantry arrived. All this time other tank crews, a few hundred yards away, were walking about outside their machines, unconscious of the little battle going on behind them.

[21] ‘Weekly Tank Notes.’

[22] ‘Tank Corps Intelligence Summary.’

[23] ‘Tank Corps Intelligence Summary.’

[24] Ibid.

[25] ‘Intelligence Summary.’

[26] Ibid.

[27] Also quoted by General Maurice, ‘The Last Four Months.’

[28] ‘The Tank Corps’ (Williams-Ellis).

[29] ‘Weekly Tank Notes.’

[30] The Whippet was nearly as long as the heavy tank. The engine was in front, under an armoured bonnet. A small cab perched in rear held three men and two Hotchkiss machine-guns. The speed of the Whippet was seven miles an hour.

[31] ‘Weekly Tank Notes.’

[32] Sir Douglas Haig’s Despatch.

[33] This action appears to be known officially by us as that of Moreuil. That village, however, was not even one of the objectives.

[34] Sir D. Haig’s Despatch. For a trustworthy estimate of the value of tanks in this and all subsequent attacks, and of their influence upon the course of the war, see ‘The Last Four Months,’ by General Sir Frederick Maurice, quoted in the last chapter of this book.

[35] Sir J. Monash, ‘The Australian Victories in 1918.’

[36] ‘Weekly Tank Notes.’

[37] Sir J. Monash, ‘The Australian Victories in 1918.’

[38] ‘Weekly Tank Notes.’

[39] This may have been the battery which a Whippet caught and destroyed on the 23rd.

[40] ‘Weekly Tank Notes.’

[41] The Hindenburg Line, it may be noted, was a generic term used by us to cover the whole series of defence systems called by the Germans the Siegfried, Hunding, Wotan Lines, &c.

[42] It was found that, for several hundred yards between Mœuvres and Inchy, the Germans had cut in the eastern bank a vertical wall nine feet deep, evidently as an anti-tank obstacle. Tanks of the 15th Battalion succeeded in climbing this.

[43] Trials at Erin and elsewhere had proved that a tank will support another on its roof; but these experiments were made in conditions differing greatly from those which obtain in action.

[44] ‘Weekly Tank Notes.’

[45] On the whole, however, the German retreat was conducted with great skill to the very end. There was no general demoralisation, and one saw very few prisoners except after set attacks on a large scale.

[46] ‘Weekly Tank Notes.’

[47] Since writing the above, a Memorandum has been issued (23rd Feb. 1920) by the Secretary of State for War dealing with the Army Estimates. It contains the following reference to the Tank Corps, which shows that our worst apprehensions are confirmed: “It has been decided that there will be no separate Tank Corps for the present, and that, though non-commissioned officers and men will be posted permanently to tank units as a nucleus, officers will be seconded instead of being transferred to these units for stated periods. The main difficulty which confronts reorganisation is the dearth of regular officers with knowledge of tanks. To some extent this may be overcome by granting regular commissions to temporary officers. Considerable progress has been made with the design of tanks during 1919, a new machine having been produced with a speed of over twenty miles an hour, and which has mechanically a long life. In a trial run of 1000 miles practically no wear has resulted. This type is being further developed. Two other machines have been despatched to India for the purpose of experiment under tropical conditions.”

[48] ‘Tanks in the Great War,’ Lieut.-Colonel J. F. C. Fuller. (Murray.)

INDEX.

A5, Turkish post at, 87.

Ablainzevelle, 372, 375, 376, 380-381.

Acheux, 39.

Achiet-le-Grand, 59, 343, 373, 375, 382-384, 429;
stockade at, 299.

Achiet-le-Petit, 374, 375, 382-383, 390, 391.

Adinfer Wood, 377.

Admiral’s Road, 110, 160.

Admiralty, experiments by, 12.

Agache river, 432, 434, 439.

Aire, 320.

Air Force, Royal, 120-124.

Albert, 258, 308.

Alberta, 132, 179.

Ali Muntar ridge, 73, 76, 78, 79, 82.

Allenby, General Sir E., 82.

Amiens, battle of. See Somme, 3rd battle of.

Anley, General G., 57.

Anthoine, General, 111.

Annequin, 334, 335.

Anneux, 270, 276, 277, 281, 449, 455.

Anti-tank machine-gun, 299-300.

Anti-tank measures, general, 289-300.

Anti-tank rifle, 297.

Approach-marches, difficulties of, 140-142, 199-203.

Armin, General von, 110.

“Armour, attack by,” 11, 16.

Armour-piercing bullets, 22.

Army, American, 428;
1st, 488.

Army, Belgian, 103, 488.

Army, British--
1st, 59, 309, 353, 356, 403, 416, 432, 459, 495.
2nd, 90, 103, 344, 356, 459.
3rd, 59, 251, 257, 265-268, 315, 342, 372-375, 387, 403, 414, 416,
432, 459, 491, 497.
4th, 31, 103, 352, 372, 387, 403, 432, 459, 488.
5th, 31, 59, 61-62, 103, 183-184, 341, 460, 495.

Army, French--
1st, 103, 351, 352.
3rd, 352, 366, 459.
4th, 488.
5th, 459, 488.
6th, 304.
10th, 459, 488.

Army, German--
2nd, 268, 293.
4th, 110.
6th, 319.
17th, 414.
18th, 293, 357.

Army Council, trials before, 14.

Arras, battle of, 58-69.

Aubvillers, 351.

Australian Corps, 61-64, 92, 349, 350, 352, 353, 356.

Avesnes-les-Aubert, 497.

Avesnes-les-Bapaume, 393, 401.

Ayette, 372.

Azincourt, 370.

Bacon, Admiral Sir R. H. S., 10, 12.

Baker-Carr, Colonel, 54, 59.

Bancourt, 405, 412.

Banteux, 264.

Bantigny, 466.

Bapaume, battle of, 373;
capture of, 403.

Barastre, 343.

Bauer, Colonel, 295.

Bazèque Wood, 371.

Beach Post, 86.

Beaucourt-en-Santerre, 363.

Beaucourt-sur-Ancre, 40-41, 375.

Beaumetz-les-Loges, 247-248.

Beaumont Hamel, 40-41.

Beauquesne, 47.

Beaurain, action at, 498-499.

Bécordel, 309.

Beersheba, 73, 82.

Behagnies, 390, 400, 429.

Bellevue, 195, 204.

Bellicourt tunnel, 459.

Below, General von, 414.

Bermicourt, 51, 89, 98.

Bertincourt, 258.

Béthune, 319, 322, 324, 330, 337.

Beugnâtre, 403, 405, 406.

Beugny, 342;
first attack on, 404-413;
second attack, 417, 420-421;
third attack, 421-425.

Biefvillers, 390, 392.

Bienvillers-au-Bois, 371, 372.

“Big Willie,” 13, 14.

Bihucourt, 389, 396, 429.

Bingham, Major the Hon. J. D. Y., 188.

Bisley, 24, 25.

Blangy-sur-Ternoise, 369.

Blécourt, 466.

Boche Castle, 115, 131, 159.

Boesinghe, 101, 118, 140.

Bois de Bouvigny, 312.

Bois de l’Abbé, 345.

Bois d’Olhain, 312.

Bois des Neufs, 270.

Bombardment, preliminary, effects of, 6, 16;
on the Somme, 33;
at Arras, 59;
at Ypres, 103, 132-133, 155, 159-160, 217-218.

Bombing, hostile, 120, 135-136, 457.

Bouchoir, 366.

Boundary Road, 160, 200.

Bourlon, 282, 438-439, 449, 452, 456, 457.

Bourlon Wood, 264, 276, 277, 282, 439, 449, 462.

Bouvigny-Boyeffles, 311.

Bovington, 50.

Bradley, Colonel, 24, 28.

Bray, 283, 343.

Briastre, 498.

Bridge Four, 114.

Brielen, 109, 117, 118.

Briqueterie, the, 32.

Broome, Major, 195, 308.

Brough, Colonel, 28.

Bruay coal-fields, defence of, 310.

Brutinel’s Brigade, 463, 474.

Buchan, Colonel J., 36, 58, 61, 64, 94, 360, 361, 417.

Bucquoy, 343, 347-348, 371, 372, 375, 383.

Buffs Road, 178, 200.

Bullecourt, 61-64, 69, 265, 278, 431, 454.

Bulkeley-Johnson, General, 65.

Bus-les-Artois, 342, 351.

Byng, General Sir J., 251, 265, 278.

Cachy, the Whippets at, 345-346.

Callwell, General, 250.

Cambrai, proposed attack on, 95-97;
first battle of, 249-284;
second battle, 432-491.

Cambrin, 334.

Canadian Corps, 60, 312-313, 352, 353, 356, 363, 403, 416, 432, 433,
440, 452-453 (and see Divisions).

Canadian Farm, 110, 132, 155.

Canal de L’Escaut, 264, 274, 433, 459, 491.

Canal du Nord, 264, 403, 432-433, 434-438;
crossing of, 451.

Capelle, 500.

Capper, General Sir J., 57.

Cars, armoured. See 17th Tank Battalion.

Carter, Colonel, 358.

Cartigny, 342.

Cattenières, 495.

Cavalry, at Monchy-le-Preux, 64-67;
at Cambrai, 266, 267, 278-279, 283;
on 8th August, 354, 359-361.

Cavillon, 356.

Cayeux Wood, 361.

Château des Prés, 331-332.

Chaulnes, 352, 366.

Cheddar Villa, 177, 208.

Chipilly, 362, 364, 366.

Choques, 324.

Chuignolles, 359.

Churchill, Winston S., the Right Hon., letter to the War Office,
11-12;
forms Landship Committee, 13;
memorandum on “Variants of the Offensive,” 14.

Clapham Junction, 91.

Cockcroft, the, 197, 208, 228-229;
significance of action, 231, 234.

Cojeul river, 68.

Contay, 351.

Courage, Colonel, 54;
Brigadier-General, 351.

Courcelette, 31, 34.

Courcelles, 375.

Crèvecoeur, 270.

Cricket Redoubt, 86.

Crinchon river, 60.

Debeney, General, 351, 352, 363.

Deir-el-Belah, 73, 74, 81.

Deligny Mill, 453.

“Delta scheme, the,” 323.

Delville Wood, 32.

Demuin, 357.

Dessart Wood, 262, 268, 284.

D’Eyncourt, Sir E. T., 13.

Diplock, Mr, 10.

“Ditching,” frequency of, 43-45.

Divisions, British Infantry--
Guards, 140, 266, 281, 283, 389, 499, 500.
1st, 186, 325, 334.
3rd, 268, 389, 405, 412, 413, 414, 418-419.
4th, 416, 417.
5th, 394, 404, 405, 413, 415, 417, 420, 422, 498, 499.
6th, 268, 270.
11th, 198, 206, 228.
12th, 270.
20th, 270.
21st, 36-38.
25th, 500.
29th, 268, 270, 283.
36th, 92, 268.
37th, 375, 380, 383, 389, 392, 491.
39th, 131.
40th, 268, 282.
42nd, 419.
48th, 198, 206, 230.
51st, 131, 268, 270, 275, 280, 281.
52nd, 73, 75, 76-79, 83-87.
53rd, 73, 76-78.
54th, 73, 75, 76, 80, 83-87.
56th, 414.
62nd, 270, 274, 275-276, 414.
63rd, 40, 380, 382-383, 393, 401, 443, 493.
74th, 73.

Divisions, Australian. See Australian Corps.

Divisions, Canadian--
1st, 416, 439.
3rd, 456
4th, 416, 439.
5th, 440.
And see Canadian Corps.

Divisions, New Zealand, 34, 92, 390, 394, 398, 405, 412, 429, 491.

Doignies, 342.

Doyle, Sir A. Conan, 482-485.

Dranoutre, 91.

Drocourt-Quéant Switch, 63, 68, 416, 417-418.

Duddridge, Sergeant, gallantry of, 413, 475-478.

Dury, 417.

Ecaillon river, 497.

Ecoust, 405, 412, 414.

Ecurie, 59, 500, 502.

El Arish, 71 (note 14), 73.

El Arish Redoubt, 73, 76-78.

Elles, Colonel H. J., 14, 46, 47-48, 51;
Brigadier-General, 89, 108, 251, 271, 272-273, 351, 504;
Major-General, 48.

English Trees, 115.

Enguinegatte, 339-340.

Epehy, 258, 342;
battle of, 433.

Erin, central stores and workshops at, 51-52.

Ervillers, 390.

Escadœuvres, 494-495.

Essarts, 372, 376.

Esnes, 491.

Estienne, Colonel, 301, 305.

Etaing, 417.

Fanny’s Farm, 93.

Favreuil, 393, 401.

Feuchy Chapel, 65, 66.

Fins, 283.

Flammenwerfer, 9.

Flers, 31, 34.

Flesquières, 264, 270, 275, 277, 455.

Fontaine-Notre-Dame, 270, 280, 281.

Forsyth-Major, Major O. A., 76.

Fort Garry Horse, 279.

Forward Cottage, 113, 151, 154.

Fouquières, 322-327.

Foster, Messrs, 14, 25.

Foster tractor, trials by, 12.

Framerville, 358, 363, 366.

Fremicourt, 404, 405, 412.

Frascati Farm, 109, 113, 136, 147-149, 178, 179.

French, General Sir J., 12, 13.

Freyburg, Colonel, 40.

Frezenberg, 111, 182.

Fuller, Colonel J. C. F., 507.

Gas, poison, 9.

Gavrelle, 403.

Gaza, 73;
first battle of, 73;
second battle of, 74-80;
third battle of, 82-88.

Gueudecourt, 31, 35, 36-38.

Ghent Cottages, 191, 198.

Gilban, 72.

Gird Trench, 36-38.

Givenchy-les-La-Bassée, 322, 330, 335.

Glasgow, General W., 57.

Glencorse Wood, 236.

Gommecourt, 389, 429.

Gonnelieu, 265, 283.

Gough, General Sir H., 31, 103, 235.

Gouzeaucourt, 262, 269, 283, 433.

Graincourt, 270, 276, 449, 455.

Grévillers, 390, 392, 393.

Guémappe, 403.

Guilleaucourt, 361, 362.

“Gun-pits, The,” 207, 218-221.

Haig, Field-Marshal Sir D., 253, 281.

Halfway House, 113, 137, 143-144, 193.

Hamel, action at, 349-350.

Hamelincourt, 389.

Hammond’s Corner, 150, 200.

Hampshire Farm, 110, 132, 155.

Hangard Wood, 346.

Hankey, Colonel E. B., 149, 208, 268, 308;
Brigadier-General, 309.

Hannescamps, 347, 372.

Harbonnières, 358, 361.

Harp, the, 61.

Harpies river, 497.

Hatfield, trials at, 14.

Haussy, 499.

Havrincourt, 270, 273;
battle of, 433.

Havrincourt Wood, 264, 268.

Haynecourt, 439, 466.

Heninel, 68, 389.

Hereira, 73, 74, 82.

Hersin, 320.

Hervilly Wood, 342.

Hesdigneul, 325, 328, 331.

Hesdin, 370.

Hetherington, Major, 10, 12.

Hendecourt, 63.

Hill 70, 310, 312.

Hill 145, 60.

Hillock Farm, 207, 220, 230.

Hill Top Farm, 149.

Hindenburg Line, 58, 61-63, 251-252, 261, 264-265, 433.

Hindenburg, Marshal von, 295.

Hinges, 324.

Hirondelle river, 298, 434.

Holt tractor, trials of, 12.

Hooge, 111.

Hooglede, 139.

Houthoulst Forest, 90, 111.

Hospital Farm, 113, 125, 138.

Hotblack, Captain, 30, 40.

Hutier, General von, 292, 357.

Imperial Defence, Committee of, 10, 11.

Inchy-en-Artois, 298, 434, 443.

Infantry co-operation, lack of, 29, 70.

Infantry, training with, 6;
in Palestine, 84;
before Cambrai, 259-261;
with Canadians, 320, 339, 340;
with Australians, 349;
with French, 351.

Iveagh, Lord, 25.

Joint Committee, 13.

Journalists, misrepresentations by, 42, 232, 271.

Joye Farm, 93.

Kemmel, 90, 330.

Kahn Yunus, 73.

Khirbet Sihan, 80.

Kitchener’s Wood, 109, 115, 131, 133, 157, 159.

Kressenstein, General von, 73.

Kultur Farm, 131, 157.

Kurd Hill, 76-79.

La Bassée Canal, 330, 335.

La Brique, 109, 114, 116, 178.

La Cauchie, 343.

La Folie Farm, 60.

La Vacquerie, 264, 274.

Lagnicourt, 416.

Landrecies, 500.

Landships Committee, 13, 14.

Langemarck, 107, 115, 194.

Lateau Wood, 274.

Le Quesnel, 361, 363.

Le Quesnoy, 500.

Le Tréport, Tank Corps Depot at, 52, 340.

Les Bœufs, 31, 33.

Les Trois Tours, 132, 138.

Lees Hill, 76-79.

Lens, 311-313.

Lihons, 366.

Lillers, 320.

“Little Willie,” 13, 16.

Lloyd, Colonel Hardress, 54.

Logeast Wood, 375, 382, 388.

Longatte, 405, 412, 414-415.

Lone Tree, 115, 157.

Loop, the, 32.

Loos, battle of, 9, 15.

Loupart Wood, 390, 392, 393-395.

Lovie Château, 101, 102, 119-120.

Luce river, 363.

Ludendorff, Marshal von, 294-295, 364, 365.

Lulworth, 50.

Lys, the, battle of, 318-319.

Machine Gun Corps, Heavy Section, formation of, 24;
departure for France, 27;
for Palestine, 71;
expansion, 47-57;
reconstituted as Tank Corps, 306;
original companies--A and B, 26, 27, 53;
C and D, 26, 27, 32, 33, 53;
E, 27, 50, 53, 71;
F, 27, 50, 53, 127.

Maison du Hibou, 197, 207, 208, 229.

Mansura Ridge, 74, 75, 78, 82.

Marcelcave, 357.

Marcoing, 264, 270, 274, 500.

Marengo Causeway, 109, 113, 145-146, 199.

Marquion, 433.

Marquion, Sains-les-, 433, 439, 453.

Martinpuich, 31.

Marwitz, General von der, 268, 292.

Masnières, 270, 274.

Maurice, General Sir F., 486, 507-509.

Maxse, General Sir I., 108, 194, 235.

Meaulte, 308-309.

Mechanical Warfare Supply Department, 14, 56.

Merlimont, 52, 368, 369.

Messines, battle of, 90-94.

Meteren, 344.

Middelkerke, proposed landing at, 90, 109, 186-190.

Miraumont, 372.

Mœuvres, 282, 433, 434, 455.

Monash, General Sir J., 357-359, 360-361.

Monchy-le-Preux, capture of, 64-67;
abandoned, 316;
recaptured, 403.

Montdidier, 366.

Mont St Eloi, 312.

Monument Wood, 401.

Morchies, 342, 416, 418, 430, 431-432.

Moreuil, 352 (note 33).

Mormal Forest, 500.

“Mother,” 13, 16.

Moyenneville, 373, 375, 387.

Munitions, Ministry of, 14.

Murat Farm, 113, 199.

Nelson’s History of the War, 94 (note 16).
See also Buchan, Colonel.

Neuve Chapelle, battle of, 9.

Neuville St Vaast, 59.

Neuville Vitasse, 67.

Neuvilly, 497.

Niergnies, Tank v. Tank action at, 492-494.

Noreuil, 418.

Noreuil Switch, the, 405, 413, 414-415.

Notre Dame de Lorette, 312.

Noulette Wood, 320, 368.

Noyelles-sur-l’Escaut, 280.

Nutt, Major, 71, 88.

Oostaverne Line, 90, 93.

Oosthoek Wood, 100-102;
tanks detrained at, 104-107;
explosion in, 125-126;
bombing raids, 135-136.

Orange Hill, 64-67, 316.

Ouderdom, 91, 102.

Outpost Hill, 76, 78-79, 83.

Painlevé, M. Paul, 253.

Palestine Detachment, composition of, 71;
suitability of tanks for desert warfare, 74;
liaison and training, 84;
disbandment, 88.

Passchendaele Ridge, 90, 108, 193, 245.

Peselhoek, 102.

Phillips, Sergeant, 107, 108.

Pierremont, 98.

Pigeons, use of, 54, 167, 222.

Pilgrim’s Rest, the, 462.

Pilkem Ridge, 108, 109-111, 115, 131-134, 212, 213.

“Pill-Boxes,” 110, 228.

Plateau, 258.

Plumer, General Sir H., 90.

Poelcapelle, 115, 239, 240-242.

Poelcapelle Road, 196, 207, 217.

Poperinghe, 102, 119, 136.

Pozières, 31.

Pronville, 298, 434, 441.

Proven, 120.

Proyart, 359.

Puits No. 12, 338.

Puisieux-au-Mont, 372.

Quadrilateral, the, 33, 35.

Quarry Wood, 438, 452.

Quast, General von, 319.

Quéant, 63, 418.

Queen’s Hill, 76, 79.

Quiévy, 497.

Rafa, 73.

Rafa Redoubt, 86.

Raillencourt, 456, 461.

Rawlinson, General Sir H., 31, 103, 488;
Special Order to Tank Corps, 365-366.

Regent’s Park, 78.

Regina Cross, 131.

Reigersberg Château, 113.

Reutelbeek, the, 240.

Rhonelle river, 497.

Ribécourt, 270, 274.

Richardson, Captain, exploit of, 236-238.

Riencourt, 63.

Rivière, 248.

Robecq, 320, 323.

Robertson, Captain, gallantry of, 240.

Roclincourt, 59, 315.

Roeux Chemical Works, 69, 70.

Roisel, 342.

Ronsoy, 460.

Rosel, 351.

Rosières, 362, 366.

Rum Road, 113, 193.

Ruyaulcourt, 258.

Sailly-Labourse, 331, 335.

Sallaumines, 313.

Samson’s Ridge, 73, 76-78, 82.

Sancourt, 460;
action at, 466-480.

Sapignies, 343, 390, 400.

Sarton, 371.

Saulty, 371.

“Savage Rabbit,” 317.

Searchlights, mobile, opportunities for, 151-152

Selle river, 491, 495, 497.

Sensée river, 277, 432, 460.

Seranvillers, 491.

Serre, 40, 343.

Sewell, Lieutenant, gallantry of, 424.

Sheikh Abbas, 74, 75, 82.

Sheikh Ajlin, 76, 82, 83, 87.

Sheikh Hassan, 73, 76, 85-87.

Sheikh Nebhan, 80.

Shellal, 82.

Siegfried Line, 403, 433 (note 41).

Simencourt, 316.

Soissons, battle of, 304, 350.

Solesmes, 496.

Somme, the, first battle of, 30-41;
lessons of, 42, 45-56;
second battle of, 341-344;
third battle of, 352-367.

Sorel, 258.

Spriet, 242.

Springfield, 180, 238.

St Georges river, 497.

St Jean, 216.

St Julien, 108, 110, 131, 181, 193, 195, 215-216.

St Mihiel, 7, 304, 486.

St Olle, 456, 466.

St Pierre Divion, 40.

St Python, 496, 498.

Steenbeek, the, 108, 110, 131, 207, 215, 223-225.

Stern, Colonel Sir A., 56.

Summers, Major, 32.

Swanage, 51.

Swinton, Colonel E. D., 10, 12, 13, 14, 24;
Memorandum on Tactics, 29-30 (note 6);
his removal, 49;
suggests use of tanks in Egypt, 71 (note 14).

Tadpole Copse, 435.

Tanks, British--
Adverse criticism of, 183-184.
Early experiments, 12-14.
Equipment, general, 128;
fascines and cribs, 261, 440-441;
sponson trolleys, 18-19;
trucks, 23;
unditching booms, 44, 127-128.
German opinion of, 285-287, 292-296.
Marks I-IV, armament, capabilities, design, dimensions, motive
power, speed, &c., 15-23;
Mark V, 15, 348;
Mark V Star, 354;
Whippet, 302.
Moral effect of, 34-35, 183, 233-234.
Origin of, 8-11.

Tanks, French, 301-303.

Tanks, German, 287-289.

Tank Committee, 14.

Tank Corps, American, 427.

Tank Corps, British (see also Machine Gun Corps, Heavy Section)--
Administration, 57, 503-504.
Antagonism to, 47-50, 185, 352-353.
Auxiliary branches:
Advance Stores, 490;
Engineer and Equipment, 53;
Central Stores and Workshops, 51-52, 262;
Gun-Carrying Tanks, 55;
Reconnaissance Branch, 30, 40, 53;
Salvage, Signalling, and Supply Companies, 54-56, 490;
Workshop Companies, 53.
Early difficulties of, 29, 45-46.
Expansion of, 50-54, 234, 306-307, 344, 402, 502-503.
Official formation of, 306.
Personnel, 24.
Training, 24-28, 50.
Brigades--
1st, 54, 59, 69, 100, 107, 194, 238, 240, 258, 268, 270, 280,
281, 284, 309, 310, 329, 341, 354, 367, 369, 372, 374, 375,
388, 425, 426, 433, 489, 491, 502.
2nd, 54, 91, 102, 111, 181, 236, 238, 239, 240, 258, 268, 270,
280, 281, 283, 310, 329, 341, 342, 344, 354, 372, 374, 375,
405, 416, 425.
3rd, 54, 102, 107, 111, 181, 236, 240, 258, 269, 270, 280, 281,
329, 341, 343, 344, 354, 365, 372, 374, 389, 403, 416, 417,
425, 459, 489, 491.
4th, 306, 308, 309, 329, 341, 342, 344, 353, 363, 365, 366, 367,
372, 425, 433, 459, 460, 489, 491, 497.
5th, 306, 329, 341, 344, 349, 350, 353, 363, 365, 366, 372, 425,
433, 459, 489.
6th, 502.
Battalions--
1st (A), 53, 91-94, 182, 239, 269, 274, 283, 342, 345, 354, 363,
489.
2nd (B), 53, 91-94, 182, 268, 280, 283, 342, 353, 489.
3rd (C), 53, 59, 60, 64-68, 104, 182, 269, 343, 345, 354,
359-361, 374, 387, 424, 489.
4th (D), 53, 61-64, 100, 107, 108, 236, 238, 239, 240, 244, 247,
268, 275, 281, 309, 342, 353, 489.
5th (E), 238, 239, 244, 247, 268, 275, 3O9, 342, 353, 489.
6th (F), 89, 107, 113, 182, 236, 269, 274, 280, 343, 354,
359-362, 374, 390, 416, 489, 500.
7th (G), 89, 98-99, 100, 104-108, 131, 137-139, 142-180, 181,
193, 195-230, 234, 235, 242-248, 268, 275-276, 281, 282, 308,
311-341, 367, 368-371, 374-403, 404-413, 417, 419-425, 430-453,
456-458, 460-463, 465-494, 494, 495.
8th (H), 248, 268, 272, 280, 283, 342, 349, 353, 489.
9th (I), 248, 269, 343, 350, 353, 367, 374, 389, 416, 417, 489,
500.
10th (J), 343, 347, 353, 366, 374, 376, 387, 389, 393, 489, 500.
11th (K), 309, 310, 312, 315, 316, 322, 330, 367, 374, 389, 416,
417, 426, 434, 455, 489, 497.
12th (L), 309, 310, 312, 315, 316, 330, 367, 369, 374, 377, 389,
412, 414-415, 416, 418, 426, 434, 491-493, 495, 497-500.
13th, 341, 349, 353, 489.
14th, 353, 374, 416, 418, 489, 500.
15th, 344, 353, 354, 363, 374, 377, 387, 433, 455, 489.
16th, 344, 367, 489, 502.
17th, 344, 354, 357-359, 374, 387, 489.
18th, 344, 502.
19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 502.
301st (American), 426-428, 459-460, 489, 502.

Tank Corps, French, 301-305.

Tank Corps, German, 287.

Tank Groups, 503.

Telegraph Hill, 61, 64, 68.

Ternoise river, 51.

Thetford, training at, 25-27.

Thilloy, Ligny-, 393, 401;
German tanks at, 416.

Tilloy, 466, 479.

Tilloy-les-Mofflaines, 61.

Tortoise Hill, 86.

Trescault, 270.

Triangle Farm, 207, 229.

Tritton, Sir W., 13, 14.

Trônes Wood, 32.

Tulloch, Capt. T. J., 10, 12.

Umbrella Hill, 83-85.

Vaire Wood, 349.

Vancouver, 207, 229.

Vanheule Farm, 177, 214.

Vaudricourt, 320.

Vaulx-Vraucourt, 342, 414.

Vauvillers, 358.

Vaux-en-Amienois, 349, 356.

Vendhuile, 265.

Viesly, 497.

Villers-au-Flos, 417, 419-420.

Villers-Bretonneux, German tanks at, 289, 345.

Villers-Guislain, 262, 269.

Villers-Plouich, 284.

Vimy Ridge, 58-60, 310, 315-317, 318.

Vlamertinghe, 101, 132.

Von Werder House, 162, 164, 166.

Wadi el Nukhabir, 75, 79.

Wadi Ghuzze, 74, 75, 76, 79, 82.

Wailly, 52, 98, 245, 248, 263.

Wambeek, the, 93-94.

Wancourt, 68, 403.

Wareham, 51.

Warfusée-Abancourt, 358.

Watson, Major W. H. L., 62.

Westroosebeke, 245.

Wilson, Major W. G., 13.

Wilson’s Post, 114-115.

Williams-Ellis, Major C., 14, 183, 190, 240, 297, 300.

Winnipeg, 196, 238.

Wool, 50.

Wormhoudt, 192, 242.

Wrisberg, General von, 293-294.

Wytschaete, 90, 92, 118, 344.

Yperlee, 206.

Ypres Salient, description of, 101-104, 118-119;
unfitness for tank warfare, 96, 103-104, 132-133, 161, 183,
193-195, 238-239.

Ytres, 258.

Yvrench, 28.

PRINTED BY WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS.

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